For over 40 years Aunt Julie and Uncle Bill Carroll ran bus tours to unique dances featuring Polka Bands, Country Bands and Big Bands in the Midwest. I had many opportunities to tag along as they traveled from Indiana as far East as New York and as far west as Nebraska. They danced in small Banquet Halls, Big Resorts and in beautiful Ballrooms including The Indiana Roof in Indianapolis, Indiana, The Crystal Ballroom - Staunton, Illinois, The Casa Loma Ballroom - St Louis Mo.The Hub Ballroom just outside of Peoria and many more including The Aragon in Chicago, Illinois.

What was unique at all the above dances? ,Sometime during the evening " EVERY " band they danced to playedPolkas, Country songs and Big Band Hits. And although the smaller combos did not have enough musiciansto sound like a big band, they still played the music made famous by the Big Bands.

Julie often refers to the " Romance of Ballroom Dancing," If you have ever danced to a Big Band in an old Ballroom, you'd know what she means.

But sadly over the years, that Romance has become LOST.Today when you go to hear a big band, it's usually at a concert or at a small club. Plus, too many of the new big bands do not play dance music. It's not because there is no room to dance, but because the bands all prefer to play jazz or songs that are unfamiliar. And when they do play standards, they are usually played way to fast for Dancing.

Ballroom Dancing instructors have made Ballroom Dancing a competition. Dance Sport is nice to watch on Public TV, but it also sends the wrong message to average dancer. Today, many dancers are afraid to attend a dance if they see Big Band or Ballroom Dancing advertised. Social dancers stay home because they cannot dance like the pro's and they assume that what they see on Public TV is what is expected of them.

Dancing with the Stars has helped a bit, but it too, is very scripted and regimental. Professional dancing on Television goes back to the days of the Lawrence Welk program. Mr Welk made sure that on almost every show, the band played a good dance medley and you saw the audience dancing in the aisles. It was done as a reminder that although the show featured professional dancers and singers, the band still played dance music. And by showing the people dancing, that was his way to attract the people at home to want to come out dancing to the band.

There is nothing like dancing to a " LIVE " Big Band or Polka Band, and as Aunt Julie always says... " Never forget the ROMANCE OF BALLROOM DANCING. "